True driver’s car has room for the family

Originally published: December 13, 2012

SMALL

MEDIUM

LARGE

Traditionally, BMW’s nomenclature has made sense — for the most part: The odd-numbered cars had four doors and the even-numbered ones were coupes. I won’t get into the fact the numbers after the first used to denote engine size — that’s grist for a different mill. The fly in the basic logic was the 3 Series — it included both sedans and coupes. The 650i Gran Coupe is the latest Bimmer to buck the numerical trend. It’s also the latest of the so-called four-door coupes, an oxymoron if there ever was one. It is, however, one of the best additions to BMW’s portfolio of late.

The Gran Coupe is a full-bodied car with enough room for four adults to luxuriate, and unlike some other “couped” sedans, accessing the back seat is not a head-banging affair. While the roof does arc downward as it flows over the rear portal, it is still surprisingly easy to slide in. Once ensconced, the seat provides a great deal of comfort, a lot of legroom (credit the long 2,968-millimetre wheelbase) and surprising headroom, given said plunging roofline and the fact it is 92 mm lower than the 5 Series sedan. The unspoken advantage is its sleek style — it is quite a looker compared to a regular sedan.

Up front, the luxury abounds. The fully articulated front buckets (part of the $4,900 premium seating package) are supremely comfortable as well as heated and cooled. They also provide the right kind of support when the big 650i is driven to its limits. The Gran Coupe tester also arrived with more toys than Santa’s sack, although some of the nicer ones did drive up the as-tested price. Most notable was the Bang & Olufsen sound system with its 600-watt digital amplifier, seven-band graphic equalizer and 16 speakers. Yes, at $6,900 it’s expensive, but it is equally loud and the sound superbly tailored to the cabin — she who loves loud music said it was the best system she has enjoyed to date.

Some of the other toys proved to be surplus to need — the sunshades, soft-close doors and surround view, all of which are part of the Executive package. Similarly, the lane departure warning system proved to be more annoying that useful, although I did appreciate the head-up display, active cruise control and blind spot warning systems that were part of the same package. If only one could pick and chose the likeable options and not have to purchase an entire package.

The 650i is powered by a sweet 4.4-litre V8 with twin turbochargers and all of the technology that make BMW engines some of the most respected. It spins out an effortless 443 horsepower and, more importantly given the portly 2,100-kilogram curb weight, 479 pound-feet of torque at a low 2,000 rpm. Relay this power through all four wheels (xDrive) and an eight-speed manumatic transmission, and you have a deceptively quick car — it hauls four riders to 100 kilometres an hour in 4.5 seconds, which is as remarkable as it is rewarding. The mid-range, however, is where this powertrain really comes into its own — the 80-to-120-km/h passing move comes in at a scintillating at 3.9 seconds.

The 650i proved to be fairly good on fuel considering much of my time with the car was a heavy gas pedal workout. Part of the economy is found in the idle stop-and-go system. While it is difficult to quantify how much effect it has on consumption, the average fuel economy of 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres was better than expected.

Part of the 650i’s allure is the ability to tweak the drivetrain to suit the tone of the drive. The Driving Dynamics Control allows the driver to select Eco Pro, Comfort, Comfort+, Sport and Sport+ settings. Each progressively ramps up the throttle response, transmission shift characteristics, ride comfort and steering assist. I did not like the Eco Pro setting — it was far too soft. The remainder of the settings worked nicely — Comfort mode on the highway, Comfort+ in an urban setting and the Sport modes when it was time to have some fun.

And, boy, is the 650i fun. In spite of wearing winter tires, it hauled its way through my favourite set of switchbacks as well as any car half its size. In Sport+ mode, there is virtually no body roll, understeer is benign thanks to the 650i’s inherent balance and the all-wheel-drive system, and the response to steering input was just about perfect. Even when Mother Nature dropped a dusting of snow, the 650i xDrive remained the model of composure. It is a car for all seasons.

While many may look at the 6 Series Gran Coupe as a niche vehicle, I would peg it as a mainstream player and the ideal alternative to the more formal 7 Series. It has almost much interior room as the bigger sedan, an equal helping of luxury and it is a true driver’s car in spite of its full-bodied nature. No, it is not the equal of the M car, but when equipped the M Sport package, it does a very good impersonation. For someone with family commitments and the desire to drive a truly sporty car, the 6 Series Gran Coupe works very well.